China's CIC to back bid for Australia's Warrnambool - report

SYDNEY Dec 27 (Reuters) - China Investment Corporation, an
investment fund owned by the Chinese government, is backing a
Chinese food company that is considering bidding for Australia's
Warrnambool Cheese and Butter Holdings Co, the Business
Spectator reported on Friday, without citing any sources or
naming the company.

Bega Cheese, which has an 18.7 percent stake in
Warrnambool, could be enticed to sell to a Chinese bidder that
offered A$10 a share, the Business Spectator said.

"We are very aware of Chinese interest in Australian dairy
assets, but there is a lot of tyre-kicking, and my advice to the
buyers if they are serious is: get an investment bank and take
their advice," an unnamed senior M&A adviser said.

Because it was early morning in China, a call to CIC for
comment was not returned.

Bega, which kicked off the takeover war with a bid in
mid-September, let its final bid close last week.

Warrnambool is backing a bid from Canada's Saputo Inc
, worth as much as A$9.60 per share, or A$549 million
($488 million), if it receives acceptances of 90 percent or more
of its shareholders. Earlier this month, Warrnambool said it
will double its first-half earnings.

A third bidder, Murray Goulburn Co-operative Group Ltd, has
offered A$9.50 per share in a bid subject to a ruling from the
Australian Competition Tribunal.